AT A GLANCE
"Practice makes permanent." John Harbaugh has that phrase plastered in capital letters above the doors on the way out to the fields at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
Based on Saturday's performance, that message has sunk in.
The Giants looked ferocious in the joint practice with the Dolphins on Thursday and built on that at Hard Rock Stadium, where they won 26-3 to claim their first victory under the new head coach. Soon, they will start to count.
UP NEXT
The Giants, who have now practiced in three different states along the Eastern Seaboard this summer, will resume training camp in East Rutherford before their preseason finale against the Jets on Friday. Two days later, the initial 53-man roster must be announced by 6 p.m. ET. Then, it's all systems go for the Sunday night home opener against the Cowboys on Sept. 13.
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE
Starters:
LT J.C. Davis
LG Jon Runyan
C John Michael Schmitz
RG Aaron Stinnie
RT Marcus Mbow
QB Jameis Winston
RB Devin Singletary
TE Chris Manhertz
WR Darius Slayton
WR Malachi Fields
WR Calvin Austin III
After he completed three of four passes for 26 yards and a touchdown in the opener (and saw plenty of action in the joint practice), Jaxson Dart sat out the second preseason game. Backup quarterback Jameis Winston got the start in Miami and scored on an 11-yard run on the Giants' first possession. He was the first of three Giants quarterbacks to play, completing 15 of 21 passes for 150 yards.
Rookie right guard Francis Mauigoa did not play after leaving Thursday's joint practice. "It's not a serious injury," coach John Harbaugh said earlier in the week. "It's a stinger-type thing, so he should be fine."
The versatile Mbow played right tackle after starting at left tackle in the opener.
Davis, a sixth-round pick, saw extensive action at left tackle and played deep into the second half.
Running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. fumbled on a run late in the first quarter that Dolphins linebacker Jackson Woodard recovered.
The Giants extended their lead to 17-0 in the first half on a 13-yard touchdown run by Devin Singletary, a play that featured two tight ends and a fullback in addition to the veteran running back.
Odell Beckham Jr. returned to Hard Rock Stadium, the site of his last NFL game played on Dec. 8, 2024 as a member of the Dolphins. He caught two of his four targets for 17 yards and drew a passing interference penalty late in first half. Shortly after, he nearly had a touchdown in the back of the end zone but could not hold onto the ball.
Darius Slayton led the game with 58 yards on four catches, including a long of 29 yards.
Schmitz started at center after missing last Saturday's game due to a concussion.
The Giants were active on the wire this week, particularly on offense. On Tuesday, they signed Najee Harris, a former Pro Bowl running back who reached 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first four years with the Steelers before tearing his Achilles with the Chargers early last season. In a corresponding move, the Giants released wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. Harris practiced against the Dolphins but did not play in the game.
A day after the signing, the Giants traded veteran offensive lineman Daniel Faalele to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for their sixth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Faalele's tenure with the Giants lasted just over four months after they signed him as a free agent on April 9. He had started every game for Harbaugh over the last two seasons at right guard.
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE
Starters:
DL Shelby Harris
DL Bobby Jamison-Travis
DL Darius Alexander
OLB Chauncey Golston
OLB Caleb Murphy
LB Arvell Reese
LB Micah McFadden
CB Greg Newsome II
CB Paulson Adebo
S Jason Pinnock
S Tyler Nubin
The Giants held the Dolphins to just three first downs and 87 yards in the first half. It started with a three-and-out capped by a pass breakup by safety Tyler Nubin, who was just getting started.
On Miami's second possession, cornerback Dru Phillips punched the ball out of the hands of running back Jaylen Wright, and Nubin recovered it.
The Giants' two sacks came from defensive linemen Bobby Jamison-Travis and Zacch Pickens. Jamison-Travis, a sixth-round pick, was one of two rookies to start. Linebacker Arvell Reese, the 10th overall selection, was the other.
The Giants' secondary had five passes defensed, including two by cornerback Deonte Banks.
Linebacker Zaire Barnes notched a tackle for loss that was almost a safety in third quarter.
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS
The kicker competition continued into the second week of the preseason. Dominic Zvada, the undrafted rookie who was slated to handle kicking duties in the second half in the opener but had no opportunities, made his NFL debut.
The former All-American from Michigan and Big Ten Kicker of the Year handled kickoff and field goal duties in the first half. He made both of his field goal attempts from 43 and 32 yards, in addition to an extra point. Last week, Ben Sauls made his lone field goal attempt from 46 yards and an extra point against the Vikings.
Sauls took over in the second half in Miami and made both of his attempts from 27 and 37 yards.
Wide receiver Calvin Austin III did a little bit of everything. He returned two punts for 29 yards, caught two passes for 24 yards, and broke a 21-yard run.
Safety Beau Brade pounced on a muffed punt by Tahj Washington at the Miami 11 with 1:49 remaining. The Giants took over and Jake Haener had three straight kneels to seal the game.
NOTABLE
The Giants edged the Dolphins in first downs, 26-3.
GAME CAPTAINS
Quarterback Jameis Winston, linebacker Micah McFadden, and cornerback Greg Newsome II represented the Giants for the pregame coin toss. Last week, the honor went to quarterback Jaxson Dart, punter Jordan Stout, and outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux.
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